Credit Dispute Letter

A credit dispute letters is the next step to repairing your credit, after you’ve analyzed your credit report and determined the hierarchy of errors that you want to correct or remove. Sending a dispute letter is only the first shot fired in what could be a long war.

Credit Repair, One Certified Letter At A Time

To keep the process flowing as smoothly as possible, send each letter with only one disputed item highlighted or circled in red on a copy of your credit report. Consider that credit bureaus are bureaucracies. Keep it simple and they won’t become confused. Go by the numbers and send each letter certified, return receipt requested, so you have a paper trail proof of who signed for the letter and when.

When you send off the credit dispute letter, the clock starts ticking. Ask the postal clerk what the usual travel time is for the letter to reach its destination. This will vary depending upon what part of the country you’re in and what bureau address you send it to. Add the travel time to and fro, giving the bureau sufficient time to reply as an absolute deadline that includes the 30-day reply mandate.

If the bureau fails to respond during that time, it means that they either cannot verify the information, misplaced your request, or otherwise messed up and you win. But don’t be surprised if you get a letter from them requesting additional information, such as a photocopy of a document you’ve already sent. Send it again. Play the game. Be patient but aggressive.

Document Everything

Make a spreadsheet or log reflecting the dates the cred dispute letters are mailed and the deadline dates so you can follow-up. Follow-up is important because you must appear consistent and persistent. Part of the game is that the bureaus figure that if you grow weary, you’ll quit, which happens a lot. Don’t. You’re in it for the long haul, remember?

Appearances Don’t Count In Dispute Letters

There are two schools of thought regarding depute letters. One is send the letters on your personal or company stationary which will add a measure of authority to the letter.

But it won’t. The bureau clerk won’t give a hoot about what your letterhead looks like unless it looks like an attorney’s, then it may get a different treatment. It’s better to send a plain letter with no header or footers, typed or printed on plain paper. If your handwriting is good, handwrite it. For those of us cursed with illegible scrawls that we laughingly call handwriting, well, that's what computers were made for. Typewriters too. Remember those?

Sample Credit Dispute Letter Format

Use this sample format as a model for your own letter (but, of course, do NOT enter information on this site). Part of the deal is to write a letter like you speak. Few of us are attorneys or financial authorities which is one reason not to like canned form letters written by same. Use your own words. Remember you know the law but the bureau clerk has no idea that you do. Keep ‘em guessing. The law is on your side.

Date

Equifax

Equifax Credit Information Services Inc.

P.O. Box 740241

Atlanta, GA 30374

TransUnion

TransUnion LLC

Consumer Disclosure Center

P.O. Box 1000

Chester, PA 19022

Experian

Experian

National Consumer Assistance Center

P.O. Box 2002

Allen, TX 75013

Re: Credit report error

Dear Sir or Madam:

I have obtained a recent copy of my credit report and discovered it contains inaccurate information. The credit report in my name (LIST FULL NAME HERE) and Social Security number (LIST SSN NUMBER) maintained by your agency (NAME OF BUREAU).

You will find a copy of this credit report enclosed containing this inaccurate data highlighted in yellow and circled in red (Use one method or both). The following information that I have highlighted/circled is wrong because the report states that: (LIST THE INACCURACY). This is not the case because (LIST REASONS WHY THE LISTING IS WRONG).

(If you are dealing with a billing error, make sure you list the creditor’s name and account number that lists the inaccurate data.)

Please investigate this matter with (LIST CREDITOR HERE) and correct and delete these disputed items from my credit report.

In addition, make this letter a permanent part of my credit record.

If you have any questions about this request or the disputed credit information, you can call me at (LIST PREFERRED CONTACT NUMBER: WORK, HOME, CELL).

Thank you for your prompt attention in this matter.

Sincerely,

Your Signature

Your Printed or typed name

Your Address

City, State and Zip Code

Your Social Security Number

Your contact number

Encl: credit report

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